JULY 8, 2016 MINDFUL MOMENTS IN MANOA

No one can argue that the current political climate is just more of the same.

Today Bernie Sanders acknowledged that Hillary Clinton in indeed the presumptive Democratic candidate, while we all expect Mr. Trump to be her opponent in November. These two seem hell-bent on doing all they can to take each other down.

Folks on both sides seem like they are anticipating the election with all out fear and loathing. Many of my co-workers and friends seem to feel they want to avoid the whole thing and go to the beach until it’s over.

In a very powerful teaching story, Thich Nhat Hanh recounts that when the crowded refugee boats met with storms or pirates, if everyone panicked, all would be lost. He wrote:

“But if even one person stayed calm, it was enough. It showed the way for everyone to survive.”

We are all in that same boat.

The Buddha taught that all things share the three the characteristics of impermanence, non-self, and dissatisfaction.

Anything can happen; it’s a fluid system; the election will end in November – impermanence.

It’s truly an impersonal process, where is there a “me” or “mine” in any of this? – non-self.

The current climate is full of anger, fear, and paranoia; politics is always about conflict – dissatisfaction.

The Buddha also taught that our deep-seated habitual reactions to dissatisfaction are what keep us caught in the trap of reactive thinking and strong emotional feelings.

It keeps us on the wheel of samsara.

Or as someone once said, on one delusional goose chase after another.

The Buddha also taught that peace comes in fully taking in what’s happening, moment by moment, and seeing these three characteristics in dynamic interplay.

It’s tough work.

That’s where our mindfulness meditation practice comes in.

It helps us deal with the emotions some of us feel when we see racist tweets being defended.